You are here

NNSA Releases New Nuclear Prevent, Counter, and Respond Report

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) released its report on NNSA’s efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation and terrorism, Prevent, Counter, and Respond—A Strategic Plan to Reduce Global Nuclear Threats (FY 2016–FY 2020) (NPCR). It provides a comprehensive overview for the first time in a single place of NNSA’s integrated strategy for preventing, countering, and responding to nuclear weapons proliferation and nuclear and radiological terrorism threats, now and in the future.

The NPCR is the result of a recommendation by the Department of Energy Secretary, and NNSA Administrator—and is supported by the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board’s Task Force on Nuclear Nonproliferation. It is a companion document to the Stockpile Stewardship and Management Plan (SSMP) that NNSA released last week.

“In an era when the threat environment is dynamic and complex, and our relationships with key nuclear powers are changing, this report charts the course for these critical activities,” said DOE Under Secretary for Nuclear Security and NNSA Administrator Lt. Gen. Frank G. Klotz. “The NPCR report describes how NNSA addresses these challenges by effectively organizing, prioritizing, and directing its nonproliferation, counterterrorism, counterproliferation, and emergency response capabilities.”

The NPCR details how through the capabilities of the DOE national laboratory system, as well as the unique suite of global security engagement programs, NNSA provides leading technical expertise to U.S. Government-wide efforts to address this enduring and evolving threat. NNSA is also at the forefront of assessing and developing tools and approaches to address emerging vulnerabilities posed by asymmetric threats that could impact nuclear security, including the continued interest by non-state groups in acquiring nuclear materials and the security implications of the global deployment of civil nuclear power.

Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, reliability and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear testing; works to reduce global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad.